Divorce and how to navigate

[TakeMeBackPlease]

My brother has separation from his wife. They have four kids under 16, youngest is 9. I’ve never really got on with my sister-in-law as we are very different. We’ve never had arguments or anything, we’ve just never been close. She’s very materialistic and confident and I’m more of an introvert. My brother and I are not all that close either. Once again no big issues , just different. Anyway, after the initial announcement I reached out to both of them separately and met with my sister-in-law. My brother has popped round a few times and I’ve been texting him. We’ve never been big on phoning and chatting. Sister-in-law initiated the split and brother is gutted although saw it coming. But I just don’t know how to navigate the next few months and future. Any tips? I’ve never been really close to SIL but don’t want her to think we don’t care. It just feels hard to know what to do.

You don't have to do anything, just behave like normal and speak to her how you usually would ... Or wouldn't as the case may be. How's your relationship with the children? Do you contact them through her?

I'd imagine following their divorce you wont have much contact with SIL unless its family functions that are centred around their children (think graduations, weddings etc).

I don't think id expect my STBXH sibling to reach out to me on a regular basis, especially if they didn't before we split.

Honestly, both my ex SILs messaged me sending their love and saying they’d be here for me and then I didn’t hear from them again 🤷🏻‍♀️ and I was pretty close to one of them. I just thought hey I have my own support network and he needed them more (he isolates himself). I probably wouldn’t bother because it'll seem hollow, especially if you were never close.

If you're not friends then you don't need to do anything? Other than arrange play dates with cousins etc if she has the kids that day